Improvement in machines for cutting and dressing stone



J. B. WEST & l. C. FISH.

- Machines for Cutting and Dressing Stone.

145,376, Patented Dec.9,i873`r QE .i

UNITED STATES PATENT @F'Fron J. BURNS WEST AND JOHN C. FISH, OF GENESEO,NEIV YORK, `ASSIGrNORS OF ONE-HALF THEIR RIGHT TO WILLIAM H. KELSEY, OFSAME PLACE, AND JOSEPH C. MCKIBBIN, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OFCOLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND DRESSING; sTo'NE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,376, dated Deccmber9, 1873; application tiled December 3, 1873.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that we, J. BURNS TEST andJOHN'C. FISH, of Geneseo, in the county of Livingston and State of NewYork, have invented certain Improvements in Stone-Dressing Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification:

This invention relates to that class of machines which are used fordressing stones of dierent kinds by planing' their surfaces 5 and itconsists, first, in constructing a machine for that purpose with twodistinct sets of cutters, arranged to commence .their cutting operationsat each side or end of the stone, and travel thence toward the centerthereof', at or near which point the cutting ceases; and it furtherconsists in the-combination and arrangement of some of the parts ofwhich the machine is composed, as will be more fully set forthhereinafter.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of our improved machine. Fig. 2 is acentral transverse section. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is an end viewof one of the cross-heads, with the nuts through which thefeeding-screws pass attached.

Corresponding letters refer to corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

One very serious objection which has heretofore existed to machinesdesigned for planing stones has been that when the tool or cutter wasmade to enter the stone to any considerable depth, and to move from endto end thereof, it would, upon leaving the same, or upon arriving at theside or end opposite .to that where the cutting commenced, break awaythe corners thereof, and thus leave them in a rugged condition, whichunfitted them for making face-walls, or forany other purpose wherestones with full corners were required. Our invention is designed toremedy this defect, and at the same time to produce a machine which isadapted for rapidly and smoothly dressing granite and all other kinds ofstone which are capable of being cut with a tool moving across theirsurfaces or through their substance.

In constructing machines of this type we use any suitable foundation, A,for holding it in position. Upon this foundation are secured fouruprights, B, to the upper ends of which a cross beam or beams areattached, as seen in Fig. l. These upright-s also serve as bearings forthe ends of the feeding-screws, and, to some extent, as supports for thebed upon which the stone rests while being dressed. The cross-beam orupper portion ofthe frame, in the present case, consists of a singlepiece of metal, C, closely fitted to the upper ends of the uprights B,and securely bolted thereto.

It has projecting' iiangesupon its under surface, which are to bedressed so as to be smooth and parallel with each other, in order thatthey may serve as ways upon which the cross-heads D D can move. Thecross-heads are to be of any suitable kind of metal, and so constructedthat they shall extend transverselyaeross the machine. Their outer endsextend far enough beyond the anges formed on the cross-beam Cto permitclamps to be attached thereto, for the purpose of holding saidcross-heads to the ways upon which they travel. To the outer ends ofsaid cross-heads, and preferably at a point directly beneath the flangesor ways upon which they move, nuts E E are secured, through which thefeedingscrews pass. The form of the cross -heads is shown in Figs. 1 and4c, where it will be seen that that portion thereof which is between thelongitudinal bars of the cross-beam C is adapted to receive and hold thechisel-stocks F F, a projection being raised upon the upper surfacesthereof for that purpose. They are also provided with a groove in theirinner faces, for the reception of the nuts which secu're the chisels intheir places. In order tha-t the chisel-stocks may be adapted to thecrosshea-ds, and be firmly held in position while the chisels arecutting, but may be allowed to have a swinging movement while beingmoved back preparatory to commencing a new cut, and for the furtherpurpose of ready detachment to permit the removal and replacement of thechisels, they are constructed as shown in Fig. 1, where it will be seenthat they are hooked upon the projections on the upper sur face of thecross-heads,while a projection upon their lower surfaces fits upon abeveled portion of said cross-head, in such a manner as to prevent anyjarring ofthe cutters, or any possibility of their being moved out ofposition, while they and the stocks. are at liberty to swing forwardwhen the chisels are being returned to the edge of the stone, in orderthat the points of the chisels may not be dulled or broken by lsuchmovement.

When it becomes necessary to remove the stocks for the purpose ofremoving the chisels therefrom, it is only necessary to swing theirinner ends inward, so as to cause the projection upon their lower edgesto clear the crossheads, when they may be liftedA out by any suitableapparatus to be provided for the purpose.

The chisels or cutters G G are secured to their stocks by means of loopsII H, which pass around them, and which are provided with shanks thatpass through the stocks, upon the outer sides of which nuts rest, whichare screwed upon said shanks, thus conning the chisels in any desiredposition. The arrangement of these chisels in their stocks is such that,as the cross-heads approach the center of the machine, but before theycome in contact with each other, the points of the chisels in one of thestocks shall pass between the points of those in the other stock, whicharrangement provides for passing the chisels over the entire surface ofthe stone; and in order that this result may be secured, and the furtherone of giving to the chisels a proper cutting angle, their stocks aremade to stand at an angle, as shown in Fi. l. It is to be understoodthat the number of chisels used is to vary, according to the kind ofwork to be done, or the dimensions ofthe stone to be dressed, the widthof the machine to be 'varied according to suoli work, and the form ofthe tools according to the character of the work and the quality of thestone.

For giving motion to the cross-heads, chiselstocks, and chisels, we useupon each side of the machine right and left hand screws I I, theyhaving their bearings in the uprights B B, while one end of each isprovided with a gear-wheel or pulley for giving motion thereto, theVpower being supplied from any prime mover. In order that the motion ofthese screws may be properly reduced, and that the requisite amount offorce may be applied, it will be found advantageous to use a smallgearwheel, as shown in Fig. l, and to place the pulley upon the sameshaft; and, should it be desirable to turn the screws at a greater rateof speed when the chisels are being returned than when they' arecutting, a smaller pulley may be placed upon the driving-shaft, and aseparate belt may be used, which will accomplish the result; or anyother suitable means may be employed for that purpose.

It will be seen that, as a consequence of the use of right and left handscrews, and of the arrangement of the chisels and the parts which movewith them, we are enabled, at all times, to commence the cutting of thestone from its outer corners, and to terminate it at or near the centerthereof. As a consequence thereof, all danger of chipping or of breakingoff the corners is avoided 5 and a stone dressed in this machine willalways be left in a condition for being placed in face-walls, or in anyother position where accurate cutting is required.

In order that the proper facilities may be afforded for placing thestones to be operated upon in proper position, and of securing themthere, a bed, K, is provided, upon the under surface of which there isfixed a rack, K', which meshes into a pinion secured to a shaft havingits bearings in the bed-plate A of the machine, so that byintermittently rotating said shaft and pinion the bed K may be movedacross the machine, and thus a new portion of the stones surface bebrought under the chisels whenever it is desirable to do so. Themovement of the bed for that purpose is effected by a lever placed uponthe shaft carrying the pinion, or by a ratchet-wheel placed thereon, tobe operated by a pawl attached to any of the moving parts of themachine. To vprevent the bed K from being moved longitudinally,projecting ways are iixed upon the upright-s in such a manner as to iitsnugly against the sides thereof at the bottom, and at or near its top,those at the bottom being extended, if desirable, far enough outward toconstitute rails, upon which the bed may be run, in order that the stonemay be placed in or upon it when it is clear of the other parts of themachine, it being provided with iianged wheels for that purpose, asshown in Figs. l and 2. ln order that this bed may be adapted to thereception of stones of varying thickness, the inner vertical surfacesofthe bed K are provided with cleats or projections, upon which a plateof metal rests, which plate may be raised or lowered at pleasure byplacing it upon more or less elevated cleats, thus adapting it to thedifferent kinds of stones.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. A stone-dressing machine having two separateand distinct sets ofcutters, arranged to commence cutting at the edges or ends ol' thestone, and to terminate at or near the center thereof, said cuttershaving a simultaneous movement, the purpose being substantially such asis herein sct forth. A

2. The combination ofthe frame B C, crossheads l) D, chisel-stocks F F,chisels Gr G, holders II H, screws I I, and driving mechanism, the partsbein constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. The bed K, when constructed and arranged to operate substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

Dated November 26, 1873.

J. BURNS WEST. JOI-IN U. FISH. Titnesses JAMES J. GONE, VILLIAM H.KELsnv.

